Click here to navigate to our What’s My Dosha? quiz.
Or if you’re wondering what the heck dosha means, check out our Principals of Ayurveda article.
Ayurveda serves as a guide. It offers structure to support our health so that we may be peaceful. Balancing relationships the seasons, our bodies, and various foods, we develop an intuitive approach toward health.
Certain kinds of exercise may be better suited to you. What do you prefer? Qualities like strenuous versus gentle, continuous versus intermittent, independent versus social are qualities to consider.
We invite you to use Ayurveda to create a joyful relationship to movement and weave it seamlessly into your routine.
According to Ayurveda, the best time to exercise is between 6:00 and 9:30 AM or PM. This is “Kapha time.” To learn more about doshas and time, check out this article. Kapha is stable, grounded, and sweet. This balances the mobile, light, intense energy of exercise.
After eating, give your body 2 hours to digest before activities like yoga, running, sports, dance, and strenuous hiking.
What kind of movement is best for me?
Keep in mind everyone has a mix of all three doshas — your prakriti or essential nature may be predominately one dosha, or a mix of two, or even all balance of all three!
Vata
Grounding, calm practices are great for Vata predominant people. Gentle, slow, and fluid movement nourishes the volatility of Vata dosha. Plan ahead, develop routine, and take care to slowly build in intensity and cool down. Meditate before and after exertion. Build strength!
- Gentle yoga, like a basic ashtanga or restorative youtube video flow
- Fluid and slow dancing at home to your favorite music; take a ballet, jazz, or contemporary dance class series
- Slow, grounding marial arts like Tai Chi and Qigong
- Swimming (not in very cold water)
- Kayaking, rowing, stand-up paddle boarding
- Hiking and walking in nature, gentle intermediate jogging
Pitta
Interesting, cooling activities suit Pita predominant people. Non-competitive but playfully intense movement like extreme sports and strength training provide an outlet for Pitta’s energy.
- Wild swimming, surfing, river rafting (especially in cold water)
- Rock climbing (indoor and outdoor – careful not to overheat)
- Weight-lifting and weight training: arms, legs, back, abdomen
- Snow-sports: skiing, snowboarding, sledding
- Yoga: vinyasa flows, cooling hatha, yin yoga, calming and stabilizing meditation
- Jogging, running, cycling and hiking in nature with friends
Kapha
Fun and enduring play is good exercise for Kapha predominate people. Activities that require strength and stamina suit Kapha’s enduring qualities. Pick-up games, going to the gym with friends, and long-distance excursions are great ways to balance Kapha dosha.
- Long-distance cycling and mountain biking, maybe join a race!
- Yoga, especially chest-opening poses and flows
- Dance (cardio!) like samba, bachata, tango, hip-hop, tap dance, jamming out at home, going out with friends
- Court sports like tennis and basketball; field sports like soccer and rugby
- Gymnastics, trampolining, martial arts, aerobics
- Hikes in nature, take the longer route and bring a friend. Gentle jogging and running.
Visiting a sauna after exercise is great for Kapha; enjoyably hot and so excellent for sweating out toxins.
What’s your favorite way to move? Keep doing it! It’s one of the best ways to stay healthy and happy.
Movement is proven to create happiness in the brain and body
Exercise releases endorphins, which interact with neurotransmitters in your brain. Endorphins reduce the perception of pain, and create a euphoric sensation in the body (WebMD).This is sometimes referred to as a “runner’s high.”
Exercise is a highly effective way to cope with stress, sadness, lethargy and emotional fluctuations. Regular exercise also improves our ability to focus, relax, and sleep.
To receive these lovely side effects, get at least 30-45 minutes of exercise each day. It will change your life. Ironically, expending energy provides more energy. When we move, our bodies expect us to move. They do and create what’s necessary to move and we feel energized!
With love,
Santa Cruz Ayurveda
6/10/24
